Sigourney-Keota starts season with win

WELLMAN - When denied something one believes is rightfully theirs to have, it creates a sense of unfairness and that can be a strong motivation.

The Sigourney-Keota football team believed they belonged in the 2019 Iowa High School Athletic Association playoffs, but were denied that opportunity. A chance for redemption in 2020 started Friday against Mid-Prairie and the Cobras struck first to lead at halftime, then Brady Duwa returned the second-half kickoff 90 yards for a 14-0 advantage on the way to the 27-20 win.

'We didn't play our best game, but found ways to make busted plays into good plays,” SK head coach Jared Jensen said. 'If we can continue to coach these men up and play at a more technically sound level, this group could be very special.”

The turning point in the game may have been a goal-line stop with time running out in the first half to keep Mid-Prairie out of the end zone and a tying score. The third quarter ended with a 27-7 SK lead.

'Then Mid-Prairie gave us their best shot and scored 14 unanswered points,” Jensen said.

The Golden Hawks had a lengthy drive, running straight power football at the Cobras for a score. The Golden Hawks changed it up for their next series with a couple big pass plays, one being a Keegan Gingerich wheel route for a TD. The Hawks had 210 yards rushing and 238 passing.

'We tried to burn some clock on offense, but I feel like it took us out of our rhythm,” Jensen said. 'Now, it's just a six-point lead and we turn it over on downs.”

The Hawks drove 40 yards into the redzone before throwing a pick to Duwa in the end zone with 14 seconds left in the game.

'We played well in the fourth quarter,” M-P head coach Pete Cavanagh said. 'We simply ran out of time.”

Defensively for SK, strong safety Wyatt Sieren led in tackles with eight.

'All position groups showed positives at times,” Jensen said. 'But for a great defense, you all have to be clicking together to make it work.”

Offensively, maintaining blocks to get movement on double teams was a problem.

'We didn't play our best against Mid-Prairie's size and speed,” Jensen said. 'We need to work on being consistent as an entire unit. It's all fixable things that we will work on.”

Both teams play at home Friday as Iowa City Regina comes to Wellman and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont comes to Sigourney.